Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-11-03
TIE TaE GLASS Gi IS INDUS INDUSTRY 3 I !.
whe ware In EuFeRe and ths
Umfeea states.

Glassware can be regarded both as
necessity and luxury, the latter
from the beauty Of the material CON-
posing the article and the artistic
work bestowed upon it. The impress
sion prevails to a considerable extent
that expensive glassware, like expen-
aive porcelain, will not break 80 read
ly as the cheaper grades, but this is
! delusion. There is no real motive
for the purchase of the expensive arti-
Gle except the qualification of a taste
for luxury. The United States pos
sea all the natural advantages that
nre possessed by the European
countries for the manufacture Of
elass, and in the use Of natural gas it
ms one important faculty not pos
aesecd abroad. The cleanliness of
gas and cheapnese, and the ease with
which il is managed, certainly give to
the glass manufacturers of Pittsburg
and that vicinity an advantage not
possessed in Europe. On the other
hand, England has it's exceedingly
cheap labor, it has the talent of fam
lilies devoted to the artistic production
of glass for generations, and it has it's
art schools greater in number and SUI
perior in teaching to those Of the
United States.
For these reasons Europe is . long
way ahead Of the United States in
ingenuity Of design, shapes, patterns
and decorations. Glass from the
earliest historic ages has been .
favorite medium for the expression OF
beauty. The fluid character OF the
original substance permits it to be
nodded to an infinite variety of forms,
and the most delicate shades of color
ing may be infused through its crystal
clearnees SO as to adapt it to the luxu-
rious uses Of the table. The highest
development Of art is in the produc-
ton of cameo glass. Evidences of this
art in its perfection are very
ancient, and even in the beginning
Of the Christian era very beauti-
ful and expensive articles Of glass
we're in use. At that time also glass
in its common forms was o cheap
article. At SO B. G. . cup and saucer
of glass could be bought at Rome for
money equivalent to our cent. Illus
frRting the other extreme, it is histori-
cslly narrated that the Emperor Nero
paid a sum equivalent to $3.50, 600 for
two cups of moderate dimensions.
Window-glass did not appear until the
third century Of the Christian era, and
il did not come into general use until
the fifteenth century. In 1861 only
the principal chambers of the Kings
palace in England had window-glass.
Egypt offers the earliest positive
evidences of glass-making. Glass
hotties containing red wines are said
to be represented ON the monuments
Of the fourth dynasty, more than 1000
wears ago, and in the tombs of a very
early period the process of glass-blow-
ing Is represented in an unmistakable
manner. In the time of the Roman
Emperor Hadrian, among the chief
industrial occupations of the inhabi-
tants OF Alexandria is mentioned glass
Blowing: and during the reign Of Au-
relian, in the third century, glass FORM
ed partof the Egyptian tribute, show
ing Il was then an article of manu-
facture in Egypt. The delicate color
:::.S & glass, glass that adds sc much te its
beauty, was known in ancient times.
1sheec coaors are produced by a mix
ture with metals. For instance: Blue
is produced by cobalt, green by copper,
and rose or ruby by gold. The great
site Of the manufacture of glass in the
middle ages was Venice, and its ar
ticles Of manufacture was exported all
over the world. The glass trade Of
Venice has been superseded by that
Of Englaud and Germany.
Silicon, OF which there is 90 per cent
in GOOD glass sand, is the principal in
gredient in glass. Lead enters into
the superior qualities of glass, giving
it clearness and brilliancy, and the
musical ring Of glass article only
comes from bad glass. Crystal glass
is bad glass, which is also termed flint
class. Only lead glass can be cut.
Lime is now greatly used in the manu-
facture Of glass, pressed glass arti
cles being made of lime glass
In its manufacture, the United
States has an advantage ovel
other countries on account of its
greater talent for the use Of machin
cry. Pressed glass articles are now
exported from the United States tc
all parts of the world. The value o.
our exports OF glassware grew from
1858, ,O5l in 1877 to $685., ,5O4 in 1887
Of which the bulk was pressed glass
In 1887 we exported SIS, 1856 worth o
window glass. While the Eastern par
Of this country was formerly the sea
Of the principal glass industry, it hal
moved west of late years, Owint
largely to the backwardness o
the Eastern manufacturers to take vi
the making of lime glass. st. Louil
is now an important manufacturing
centre, but the greatest amount o
business is done in the Ohio Valley
Of which Pittsburg and Wheeling arr
the chief glass towns. The natura
gas OF this section has given the glass
industry great impetus. Heavy
plate window glass is manufactured
largely in the West, but the glass uset
in the East is mostly imported from
France.
Considerable flint glass is imported
into this country and cut here, the
importers thereby getting an advan
tage of lower import duties. The cu
glass industry Of this country has
grown greatly Of recent years, bui
the article is not yet exported to the
extent that pressed glass is. The
chief expectations of glass from this
country arc to the South American
States, and considerable goes to the
British possessions in Australia
This country is undoubtedly able te
compete with any or all the countries
Of Europe in stamped lime glass
Most Of the glass in domestic use il
of this kind. The duties on glass
range from As to 100 per cent. &C
valorem, but notwithstanding thi.
tho importation is large. For the fis
cal year ending June 80. 1887, tn.
value of foreign glass imported wal
81, ,319, ,741, against q, 1886, 1856 for 1877
II New York Commercial Advart;ear